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'Wizard of Oz' park to reopen in North Carolina

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WJZY) - Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high ... on a North Carolina mountain. The Autumn at Oz Festival is kicking off in North Carolina's Avery County this September.The "Wizard of Oz"-themed amusement park drops visitors in the center of the Land of Oz – yellow brick road included. There are craft and food vendors, an "immersive theatrical experience," plus lots of photo opportunities. The park originally opened in June 1970 and was fully operational for about a decade before a fire destroyed two of the Emerald City buildings in 1975. New management was able to get the park up and running again by 1976 – but not for long. The amusement park shut down again in 1980. Forever stamps, First-Class Mail could become more expensive this summer: Here’s why In the late '80s, parts of the park had to be demolished because of "excessive vandalism and decay," Land of Oz North Carolina explains. "However, much of the park was saved including the Gale farmhous...

2 million people fled America's big cities from 2020 to 2022. But why?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

(The Hill) -- Two million people fled America’s largest cities from 2020 to 2022, new research shows, signaling that a retreat from urban centers to suburbs, exurbs and smaller cities in the early months of the pandemic has hardened into an enduring and potentially worrisome trend. More than 1.2 million people left the nation’s large urban counties between July 2020 and July 2021, according to a report published this month by the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan public policy organization. Another 860,000 people departed between July 2021 and July 2022. Only a fresh influx of immigrants saved big cities from dramatic population declines. Even with the immigrants, 17 of the nation’s 25 largest counties suffered population losses between April 2020 and July 2022, according to census data tabulated by The Hill.  “The metros, as a group, lost population for the first time since at least 1990, and probably for decades before that,” said William Frey, a demographer a...

Lawmaker calls Texas gang database ‘scary,’ urges reform

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Lawmakers in the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee discussed a bill Tuesday that could reform the state’s gang database system, a law enforcement tool used to catalog dangerous street gang members. But critics say the database can target the wrong people and violate their rights.Mary Gonzalez, D-Clint, authored House Bill 230. She told the committee it is a “simple” bill that requires notifying people if they’ve been placed in the gang database, provides a way for people to get removed if they’ve been wrongfully included and requires audits. Audit: TX gang database flawed, thousands of records miss validation “We do want to support the work of our law enforcement agencies, but we just want there to be reasonable guardrails on this very important tool,” Gonzalez said at the hearing.Several people spoke briefly in support of the legislation, and nobody spoke against it.Michelle Farris, a representative of the Texas Department of Public Safety who sp...

Georgetown ISD appoints interim superintendent

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – The Georgetown Independent School District Board of Trustees appointed an interim superintendent Tuesday.Accordioning to a district announcement, trustees unanimously named Lindsay Harris to the job starting May 1 when current superintendent Fred Brent becomes Superintendent Emeritus. Related: Georgetown ISD’s superintendent to retire The district said Harris has been Chief Strategist for Leadership & Culture. According to the district, she has worked with campus principals and the Communications, Human Resources, and Student and Campus Services departments.Harris has a masters degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University and bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, according to GISD.The district said Harris has a superintendent certificate for the state of Texas and served as a middle school campus principal for ten years, with principal experience in Georgetown ISD and Bryan ISD. She also taught Span...

Scandia marks first anniversary of Swedish sister-city relationship

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

Scandia will celebrate the first anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Mellerud, Sweden, next week with an online ceremony and fika.The event, which will be at 11 a.m. April 20 at the Scandia Community Center, will include Swedish songs performed by the Bettes drἅgar Choir from Mellerud, American songs by Unexpected Company Chorale and remarks by Mellerud Mayor Karl-Olof Pettersson and Scandia Mayor Christine Maefsky.The celebration will be broadcast simultaneously via Microsoft Teams. A free fika – a Swedish coffee break with Scandinavian treats such as a kransekake cake, princess torte and krumkake waffle cookies – will follow, said Patti Ray, a member of Scandia’s Sister City Committee. .Scandia sought Mellerud to be its sister city because many of the city’s founding families came from the area, including the Isaacsons, Abrahamsons, Dahlins, Edstroms, Kunos and Andersons, Ray said.The committee over the past year has worked on connecting the cities in a number of diff...

Reggae band The Wailers to perform in Hudson Falls

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Reggae legends The Wailers are coming to Hudson Falls. The band is set to perform at The Strand Theatre on Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Wailers was founded in 1963 and is best known for working with Bob Marley. The band continues to perform in his honor since his passing in 1981. The band will be performing Marley hits and their greatest classics such as "One Love," "Jamming," and "No Woman, No Cry."Tickets are on sale on the Brown Paper Tickets website. You can also buy tickets at The Strand Box Office, cash or check only.

Ballston Spa summer concert series lineup announced

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association has announced the 2023 Ballston Spa Concerts in the Park lineup. The free concerts run every Thursday between June 29 and August 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Old Iron Spring Park. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! LineupJune 29: Ballston Spa Community BandJuly 6 : The North & South DakotasJuly 13: The ProtonesJuly 20: Kevin McKrellJuly 27: SIRSYAugust 3: Annual Ice Cream Social with the The Union Fire Company #2 Marching BandAugust 10: Downtown HornsAugust 17: The Lustre KingsAugust 24: The Sea The SeaAttendees can bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the concerts. If your business is interested in sponsoring Concerts in the Park, you can visit the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association website.

5 things to know this Wednesday, April 12

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Wednesday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect another warm yet windy day today. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! SPORTIME Schenectady caught fire on Tuesday and was forced to evacuate while hosting school vacation week programs. Also, the Albany Police Department is investigating a shooting involving a 3-year-old girl. Police say she sustained non-life-threatening injuries. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Wednesday morning. 1. SPORTIME Schenectady catches fireSPORTIME Schenectady was hosting its school vacation week programs when a fire forced them into action. Carman Fire Chief, Scott Sloan, was in the area for a different call.2. Albany PD investigates shooting involving child victimThe Albany Police Department has confirmed a shooting incident occurred around the 300 block of Colonie Street around midnight on Monday. Police say a 3-yea...

I-44 lanes near Gray Summit closed due to overturned vehicle crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

FRANKLIN, COUNTY, Mo. - Emergency crews are at the scene of overturned vehicle crash on I-44 Wednesday morning. Our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter was flying over the area located near Gray Summit where one driver was taken to a nearby hospital via helicopter. The cause of the crash has not been revealed. Top story: “Easter Miracle” for Lake St. Louis officer critically injured by suspected drunk driver All I-44 westbound lanes have been blocked and drivers are urged to take alternate routes. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

2 Caseyville, Illinois cyclists ride cross-county

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:12:53 GMT

CASEYVILLE, Ill., - Two cyclists from Caseyville, Illinois are encouraging kids to get off the sofa, stop gaming so much, and get active. They are leading by example, and pedaling across the country.Dave Roberson and Jesse Rochman are about halfway through their journey from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida. They're raising money for their charity, 'roads to giving.' The duo is hoping to raise about $30,000 to buy bicycles for 300 children."We launched a charity called Roads to Giving with the mission being to improve kids mental, physical, and emotional well-being through the power of cycling," Roberson said. "To get kids off screens and outdoors, and to promote that charity, we came up with the idea to come up with a cross-country cycling ride. We left San Diego, California on March 12. We've been riding for about 24 days, and we made it to the half point in Austin, Texas." Trending: Male bald eagle goes from babysitting rock to an eaglet at World Bird Sanct...